Dema Kovalenko
NYSWYSA Member Club/Years (Dates) of Participation:
Career Highlights:
Played three years at Indiana, appearing in 57 games while tallying 45 goals and 15 assists
Indiana University Hoosiers Big Ten “Freshman of the Year” 1996
All-Conference Team 1996
First-team All American 1997-1998
NCAA National Championship in 1998.
Herman Trophy finalist 1998
MLS Chicago Fire 1999-2002
MLS All-Star Team 2001-2002
MLS D.C. United 2003-2005
MLS Cup with DC United 2004
MLS New York Red Bulls 2006-2007
MLS Real Salt Lake 2008
MLS, LA Galaxy 2009-2010
Major League Soccer (MLS) (1999 – 2011) (293 Games)
Personal: Few players from NYSW have achieved the success of Dema Kovalenko. Born and raised in Ukraine before relocating to Chili, NY in 1992, Kovalenko quickly became one of the nation’s most prominent young players. The 1996 NSCAA/Adidas National Player of the Year and a two-time prep All-American, Kovalenko starred collegiately at Indiana, winning an NCAA team title and twice being named All-American. Kovalenko has since become a star in MLS, earning an MLS Cup title in 2004 with DC United and twice appearing in the MLS All-Star Game. He also played briefly internationally for Metalurh Zaporizhya in the Ukraine and for FC St. Paul in the German Bundesliga. Kovalenko retired in 2011, appearing in 293 games over his illustrious career.